Zo ̄ilos (of Cyprus?) (ca 305 BCE)
According to P, De ̄me ̄trios 21.4–5, an engineer who made in Cyprus two tho ̄rakes of
extraordinarily hard steel (side ̄roi).
(*)
PTK
Zo ̄ilos of Macedon (15 – 75 CE)
Although P 1.ind. 12 – 13 cites him as an authority on trees, A, in G
CMLoc 3.1 (12.632–633 K.), cites him as an oculist, and records an earache remedy, whereas
A P., in Gale ̄n CMLoc 4.7, cites several collyria, including one “from
P” (12.752), a “green” (12.763–764), and the Nardinon (12.771–772), which
remained in use throughout antiquity: C F 29.13 (CUF, p. 63), A
A 7.117 (CMG 8.2, pp. 392–393), and A T (2.39–41 Puschm.).
Besides nard, it contained acacia, aloes, antimony, calamine, saffron, ginger, malabath-
ron, myrrh, opium, psimuthion, etc., in rainwater. Askle ̄piade ̄s, in Gale ̄n Antid. 2.12
(14.178–179), furthermore records his remedy for scorpion stings, also used by E-
C.
NP 12/2.826 (#7), V. Nutton.
PTK
Zo ̄puros (Geog.) (250 – 120 BCE)
Wrote a geographical work, On Rivers, cited by the grammarian Harpokratio ̄n and by
A M in S B. Historical fragments of various
kinds are attributed to the common name Zo ̄puros: I “L,” Mens. 4.150 ( p. 168
Wu.) on early Rome, and Marcellinus, Vit. Thuc. on T’ death.
NP 12/2.836 (#7), H.A. Gärtner.
PTK
Zo ̄puros (Physiogn.) (440 – 400 BCE?)
Physiognomist known only from an anecdote about assessing So ̄crate ̄s by physiognomic
inference: “Stupid is So ̄crate ̄s and dull, because he has no hollows at the joint of the
collarbones, but these parts are blocked and stopped up; besides, he is a womanizer.” At the
audience’s laughter, So ̄crate ̄s defended Zo ̄puros’ analysis, saying that this was indeed his
natural inclination, but that by his intellect he had rid himself of it (C de Fato 10; cf.
Tusc. 4.80). This anecdote presumably stems from the dialogue Zo ̄puros by Phaido ̄n of E ̄lis
(D L 2.105) and probably served to illustrate the current theme in
Socratic writings about the discrepancy between the appearance of the body and the nature
of the soul (cf. A). Another version of the anecdote calls Zo ̄puros a “wise man
from Syria” and has him prophesy an unnatural death to So ̄crate ̄s (D.L. 2.45).
RE 10A (1972) 768–769 (#3), K. Ziegler; SSR 1.491–492 (Phaedon frr. 8 – 11) and 4.115–127; G. Boys-
Stone, “Physiognomy and Ancient Psychological Theory. I. The Circle of Socrates (1): Phaedo of
Elis,” in Swain (2007) 22–33.
Sabine Vogt
ZO ̄ILOS (OF CYPRUS?)